Bathroom toilet table and hamper



Dec. 9, 1958 c. s. HAUSMAN 2,863,709

BATHROOM TOIVELET TABLE AND HAMPER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 15, 1956 I WP I 58 1NVENTOR.. CHHRLD'I'TE Snnnuurn Hnusnnu QTTLILYNEY Dec. 9, 1958 c. s. HAUSMAN 2,863,709

' BATHROOM TOILET TABLE AND HAMPER Filed Oct. 15, 1956' T 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

CHHRLDTTE Snnnnrra Hnusmnn 7 TTURNEY Dec. 9, 1958 c. s. HAUSMAN 2,863,709

BATHROOM TOILET TABLE AND HAMPER 13 um? 6w Z.Z' 9.11 INVENTORZ CHARLOTTE Snnnnm'n Hausman QTTDEJVEY Dec. 9, 1958 c. s. HAUSMAN 2,863,709

' BATHROOM TOILET TABLE AND HAMPER Filed Oct. 15, 1956 4 sheets sheet 4 INVENTOR. 84 CHanw'rTE Snanunra HRUSMHI m'rmmr 2,863,709 BATHROOM TOILET TABLE AND HAMPER Charlotte Sharolta Hausm'an, New York, N. Y.

Application October '15, 1956,*Serial No. 616,054

Claims. ,(Cl. 312-'-321) The present invention relates generally to articles of furniture and, more particularly, has reference to a combination article adapted to incorporate, in a single fumiture piece, a bathroom or dressing table, and a support for a clothes hamper.

One object of importance is to provide an article of the character described that will be adapted to be conveniently located in a bathroom, to serve as a dressing table, while at the same time supporting in a normally recessed position a clothes hamber. In this way it is proposed, without taking up any more than a minimum amount of space, to provide a dressingtable having a substantial storage area, as well as a substantial surfacearea, while at the same time permitting the storage of fabric articles that are tobe laundered. It is common practice, in this regard, to include a clothes hamper in the bath"- room. In accordance with the invention, the only additional space required would be that occupied by the extension portion of the piece of furniture, in whichfextem sion portion there is incorporated a dressing table, a rnir 'ror, electric outlet for an electric shaver or other electrical item, etc. 9

Another object is to provide a combination piece of furniture of the character described that can be -manu= factored at a cost substantially less than the sum of the individual costs of a dressing table of comparable size, a hamper, and a hamper support.

Still another object is to facilitate the movement of the hamper between recessed and extended -positions,- by a drawer-type support, with the hamper when recessed being fully covered at its upper end so as to conceal the soiled garments or other fabric articlesfrorn view.

Still another object is to provide a furniture piece of the character stated that can be manufactured at relatively low cost, but which will nevertheless befhighly attractive and durable.

A further, more specific object is to so mount the hamper that it will be suspended from a pair of slidable,

drawer-type bars, said bars being equipped with s'top means adapted to engage an associated guide assembly, so as to limit movement of the ham er to its eXtendd posr tion.

A further object is to so design the stop means of the hamper suspension assembly, and the associated guide means and hamper support bars, as to permit not only their manufacture at a low cost, considering the emciency thereof when in use, but also to facilitate their assembly and disassembly.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had. to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly 'set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

.Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a combination piece of furniture formed according to the presentinvention, showiog the lid in open position.

2,863,709 "Patented Dec. 9, 1958 2 Fig. 2 is an enlarged front el'evational view thereof. Fig. 3 is an end 'elevational view on the same scale as Fig. 2, the furniture piece being viewed from the left of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional viewon the same scale as Fig. 2, taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the same scale as Fig. 2, taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view, portions being broken away, on the same scale as 'Fig. 2, taken substantially on line "66'of Fig. 3. p

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view, still further enlarged, showing the hamper suspensionunit fully withdrawn from the associated support therefor, the ham er being illustrated fragmentarily and in dotted lines.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view, the scale being enlarged still further, of one of the hamper support bars and associated guide means. I

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view onan enlarged scale 'ofthe hamper suspension unit and associated hamper support bar, the stop means of the support bar being shown in full and dotted lines in operative and inoperative positions respectively.

Fig. '10 is a transverse sectional view, the scale being enlarged above that of Fig. 9, taken on line 10 -10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary, transverse sectional view of a modified form of hamper suspension unit and guide means therefor.

Fig. 12 is a horizontal section substantially on line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section substantially on line 13- 13 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional view on line 14*14 of Fig. 11, the scale being enlarged above that of Fig. '11.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view on the same cutting plane as Fig. 11, with the hampersuspension means extended.

Fig. 16 is a view like Fig. 14, taken on line 1616 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged perspective view of the stop means of the modified form, per se.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-10, the combination piece of furniture includes a rectangular, hollow cabinet including a front wall 10, end walls 12, a back wall 14, and a bottom wall 16. A top piece 18, at one end thereof, has a large opening 20 providing access to a storage compartment 21 at one end of the cabinet. A lid 22 is hingedly connected at 23 to the back edge of the opening 20, to swing between a closed position in which it lies in the plane of the top piece 18, and an open position as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. A mirror 24 is secured to the underside of the lid, and below the mirror there is mounted upon the lid afiu'orescent lamp 26.

In the cabinet, there is provided an inner side wall, having mounted thereon electric switches 28 and an electrical receptacle or outlet 30. The receptacle may be used to plug in an electric shaver or other electrical equipment, such as a hair dryer, etc.

At the back of the compartment, there are provided small drawers 32 for the storage of various toilet articles, etc. The fronts of the drawers 32 are equipped with pulls for the purpose of shifting the drawers forwardly into the compartment to provide access to the interiors of the storage drawers.

Also mounted in the compartment 21 is a soap tray 34.

It will be understood that the illustrated switch, lamp, receptacle, etc., are intended to show the versatility of the construction for providing a completely equipped bathroom or dressing table, and it will be understood that various other fixtures, drawer arrangements, etc., may

be employed in connection therewith, if desired;

At the other end of the cabinet, front wall has a rectangular opening 36, within which a drawer 38 is slidably mounted, said drawer providing space for the storage of various other articles, such as wash cloths, cosmetics, and the like.

Element 70 is of a width slightly less than the width of slot 48, so that it may enter the slot 48 when the hamper To support the cabinet in elevated position, there is I provided, at the end thereof in which the compartment 21 is formed, an end leg support 40. This may be ornamentally shaped as shown, although this is not es sential to the invention. The support is fixedly secured to the cabinet end, and at the other end of the cabinet there is similarly secured a transversely extending second end leg support 42.

The cabinet may be made of one or more pieces. If it is made of a number of pieces, a plurality of suitable additional supporting legs or members may be also provided.

Secured fixedly to the underside of the bottom wall 16 of the cabinet, at the end of the cabinet in which the drawer 38 is mounted, are identical guides 44 spaced longitudinally of the cabinet at the undersides thereof in parallel relation. The guides extend transversely of the cabinet substantially the full distance from front to back thereof, and (see Fig. 8) are formed with longitudinal bores 46 of circular cross section, in communication for their full lengths (see Fig. 9) with longitudinally extending bottom slots 48. As shown in Fig. 9, the walls of each slot 48 are recessed as at 50 for substantial portions of their lengths, with the recesses terminating short of the front and rear ends of the guide. The front end walls 52 of the recesses define abutments for limiting extension of a hamper support means out of the guides, in a manner to be made presently apparent.

The hamper support means comprises a pair of parallel, elongated bars 54 of circular cross section, adapted to fit snugly in and slide within the bores 46 of guides 44.

Bars 54, at their front ends, are fixedly connected to a crossbar 56 equipped with a drawer pull 58. The crossbar 56, in the recessed position of the hamper support means, is flush with the front of the cabinet as shown in Fig. 1.

Secured fixedly to and depending from the underside of each bar 54 are hamper support hooks 60. These are spaced longitudinally of their associated bar and are adapted to engage in the opposite sides of a flexible, upwardly opening hamper 62. The bottom of the hamper may be rigidified by a base plate 64 supported upon rounded feet 66 that are in contact with the supporting surface. Instead of the feet 66, there may be provided on the underside of the base plate various types of roller means, such as ball elements, etc., to facilitate rolling of the hamper between its recessed position shown in Fig. 5 and its extended position.

The particular material of which the hamper is formed can be varied. The hamper could be a comparatively rigid assembly, rather than a flexible receptacle such as has been shown by way of example. In either event, the hamper is suspended at its sides from the respective bars 54. Thus, when the bars 54 are slid inwardly to their maximum extent within the guides 44, the hamper will be fully recessed below the cabinet as shown in Fig. 5, with the open top of the hamper being covered and being concealed from view. Means is provided for limiting extension of the bars 54 out of their associated guides. To this end, there is secured to the rear or inner end of each bar 54 a small, rectangular, depending lug 68. Pivoted upon the lug 68 below the same is a stop element 70, the pivotal connection being effected by means of a pin 72 extending through lug 68, element 70, and bar 54. The element 70 swings about an axis perpendicular to the length of the associated bar 54, and the swinging movement is in the plane of the recesses 50 of the guide.

support means is being inserted in the guides. In these circumstances, element 70 is extended longitudinally of the bar 54 in the manner shown in full lines in Fig. 9, and also shown in Fig. 8.

When the element 70 has moved into the portion of the guide 44 in which the recesses 50 are formed, the element is rotated to its dotted line position of Fig. 9. The element will now be disposed transversely of the path of sliding movement of the bar 54. Accordingly, when the crossbar 56 is pulled outwardly for the purpose of providing access to the interior of the hamper 62, the element 70 ultimately will bear against the abutment 52 to limit further movement of the bars 54 in an outward direction. At the time element 70 engages abutment 52, the hamper is fully exposed, so that garments can be inserted in or removed from the same without difiiculty.

It will be seen that the construction is decidedly simple, and yet provides an effective combination piece of furniture, so designed as to support a hamper in a normally recessed position, where it will not represent an object unattractive to the observer. Further, the furniture piece, though compact, incorporates a substantial amount of storage space of different types, and further is equipped with various fixtures, etc., that increase measurably the usefulness of the same.

In Figs. 11-17, there is shown a modified construction which is similar to the first form of the invention in all respects, except for the construction of the damper support means. Thus, the device in the modified form includes the cabinet identical in all respects to that of the first form, the end supports, lid 22, drawer 38, etc. Further, the hamper 62 is identical to that of the first form. The difference between the first and second forms resides in the fact that instead of the stop means 70, a different stop means, embodying a leaf spring 70, is is provided within each hamper support bar 54. The bars 54 are tubular in this form of the invention, rather than solid, and are fixedly attached at their front ends to the ends of the crossbar 56. The bars 54 slide in guides 44 arranged similarly to those of the first form, between recessed and extended positions shown in Figs. 11 and 15, respectively.

The guides 44 are formed with end-to-end bores 46 of circular cross section, said bores being in communication over their full lengths with slots 48 having in their side walls recesses 50 closed at both ends, to define, at the front end of the recesses, abutments 52 In these respects the guides 44 are identical to those of the first form, with the exception that the recesses 50 can be substantially shorter in length than the recesses 50 of the first form. Recesses 50 are disposed adjacent the front ends of the guides 44*.

Suspended from the bars 54 are hooks 60 similar to those of the first form, for detachably suspending the hamper 62 at its sides from the respective bars 54*.

The bars 54* can be made of aluminum or of other metal material. Considering now the leaf spring stop element 70, this is formed from a single piece of material as shown in Fig. 17. It includes at its back end a short tab portion 74 apertured to receive a rivet 75 or equivalent fastening element whereby the spring is anchored to the rear extremity of the bar 54*. The spring element is arranged longitudinally of bar 54*. Immediately forwardly of the tab is formed a forwardly, downwardly inclining portion 76. This in turn merges at its forward, lower end into a vertically disposed, upwardly projecting part 78 that is integral at its lower end with laterally, oppositely projecting wings 80.

At the upper end of the part 78, the spring element is extended through a bottom slot 81 formed in the bar 54 after which the spring element is formed with an elongated, compoundly curved free portion. The free portion for the inner half of its length is arcuately bowed upwardly as at 82, while the outer or forward half of the =length of the free portion 'of the spring is 'arcuately bowed downwardly as at 84. The free, forward extremity of the spring is adapted to move through a longitudinal top slot 86 formed in the bar 54.

Referring now to Fig. 15-, when the hamper support assembly is pulled to its extended position, ultimately the slot 86 will be exposed forwardly of the bottom wall '16 of the cabinet. The spring is so tensioned as to spring upwardly toward its Fig. 15 position, with the forward, free end of the spring disposed upwardly above the bar 54% and the wings 80 disposed at the level of the slot 43 so as to engage the abutments 52 of recesses 50.

As a result, further movement of the hamper in a direction to extend the same is prevented, by the wings engaging the abutments in the same manner that the ends of the element 70 engage the abutment 52 in the first form of the invention.

When the hamper is to be again disposed in its recessed position, the hamper support assembly is shifted to the left in Fig. 15. As 'it begins to move inwardly, the upwardly projecting, free end of the spring, which is oblique to the path of sliding movement 'of the bars 54*, is engaged by-the frontend-of theguide 44*, at the top of the bar-receiving bore 46* thereof. Further inward movement of bars .54 causes .a camming action :to be set up, whereby the front end of the guides 46* cammingly bias the free end 84 of the spring downwardly athrough slot 86, until the spring is fully recessed within .the slot in theposition shown in Fig. ll.

This downward movement of the spring at the free end thereof imparts corresponding downward movement to :the angular rear end portion of the spring having the laterally, oppositely projecting wings 80. As a result, wings 80 move downwardly below the plane of the underside of the guide 44, to the Fig. 11 position. The downward movement of the wings is eife'cted before said 'wings reach the rear end walls of recesses 50**, so there is no restriction to the free inward sliding movement of the bars 54*.

The bars 54 are now shifted fully to their recessed positions of Fig. 11. The next time tha-t'the hamper is '10 be pulled out, as soon as the spring reaches .a position to clear the front end of the guide, the free end thereof .again springs upwardly, raising the wings 80 at a time when the wings are between the opposite ends of the recesses 50 so that further movement of the hamper to its extended position will ultimately bring the wings into engagement with the abutments 52 once again. A feature of importance, in connection with the spring element, is that the compound curvature of the elongated, forwardly projecting tongue causes the upwardly bowed inner part 82 of said tongue to engage against the wall of the bore of bar 54 when the front end of the spring clears the'guide 44 (see Fig. 15). Thus, the upward movement of the spring is limited beyond a position in which the portion 84 thereof projects above the bar 54 only as far as is absolutely necessary to bring the wings 80 into a position for engagement in the abutments 52*.

If it is desired to remove the hamper support assembly entirely, one need merely, after shifting the hamper support assembly to the Fig. 15 position thereof, hold the free ends of the springs in depressed positions, for the purpose of causing the wings 80 to be located below the plane of the bottom surfaces of the guides 44%, so that they will not now engage the abutments, thereby permitting the bars 54 to be extracted fully from the guides.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, 'what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. A combinationdressing table and hamper comprising a horizontally extending cabinet providing a dressing table, means supporting the cabinet in an elevated position, guides at the underside of the cabinet, support bars sliding in the guides, a crossbar connected between the support bars to connect the same for joint sliding movement, a hamper suspended from the support bars for adjustment of the hamper between recessed and extended positions responsive to sliding movement of the support bars-inwardly and outwardly of the guides, and means on the support bars engageable with the guides to limit outward movement of the support bars, the guides being formed with end-to-end bores and with longitudinal bottom slots communicating with said bores, said guideengaging means of the support bars being slidably dis posed within the slots with the support bars being slidably engaged in the bores of the guides, said slots of the respective support bars having side walls formed with elongated recesses communicating with the slots, said recesses having front end wall defining abutments, said means engaging against said abutments on outward movement of the support bars to limit said outward movement, said means on the support bars comprising leaf spring elements formed with laterally, oppositely pro- .jecting wings disposed for engaging the abutments on outward movement of the support bars.

2. A combination dressing table and hamper comprising ahorizontally extending cabinet providing a dressing table, means supporting the cabinet in an elevated position,.guides at the underside of the cabinet, support bars sliding in the guides, a crossbar connected between the support bars to connect the same for joint sliding movement, a'hamper suspended from the support bars for adjustment of the hamper between recessed and extended positions responsive to sliding movement of the support bars inwardly and outwardly of the guides, and means on the support bars engageable with the guides to limit outward movement or" the support bars, the guides being formed with end-to-end bores and with longitudinal bottom slots communicating with said bores, said guideengaging means of the support bars being slidably disposed within the slots with the support bars being slidably engaged in the bores of the guides, said slots of the respective support bars having side walls formed with elongated recesses communicating with the slots, said recesses having front end walls defining abutments, said means engaging against said abutments on outward movement of the support bars to limit said outward movement, said means on the support bars comprising leaf spring elements formed with laterally, oppositely projecting wings disposed for engaging the abutments on outward movement of the support bars, each leaf spring having an angular portion slidably disposed in the slot of the associated support bar, said wings being formed upon the angular portion.

3. A combination dressing table and hamper comprising a horizontally extending cabinet providing a dressing table, means supporting the cabinet in an elevated position, guides at the underside of the cabinet, support bars sliding in the guides, a crossbar connected between the support bars to connect the same for joint sliding movement, a hamper suspended from the support bars for adjustment of the hamper between recessed and extended positions responsive to sliding movement of the support bars inwardly and outwardly of the guides, and means on the support bars engageable with the guides to limit outward movement of the support bars, the guides being formed with end-to-end bores and with longitudinal bottom slots communicating with said bores, said guideengaging means of the support bars being slidably disposed within the slots with the support bars being slidably engaged in the bores of the guides, said slots of the respective support bars having side walls formed with elongated recesses communicating with the slots, said recesses having front end walls defining abutments, said means engaging against said abutments on outward movement of the support bars to limit said outward movement, said means on the support bars comprising leaf spring elements formed with laterally, oppositely projecting wings disposed for engaging the abutments on outward movement of the support bars, each leaf spring having an angular portion slidably disposed in the slot of the associated support bar, said wings being formed upon the angular portion, each spring further including a tongue portion projecting forwardly from the angular portion within the support bar and terminating at its forward end in an upturned extremity, the associated support bar having a slot through which said extremity of the tongue projects on outward movement of the support bars, said extremities of the tongues being adapted for depression by a user to shift the springs downwardly to locate the wings out of position for engaging the abutments, whereby to free the support bars for outward movement fully out of the guides.

4. A combination dressing table and hamper comprising a horizontally extending cabinet providing a dressing table, means supporting the cabinet in an elevated position, guides at the underside of the cabinet, support bars sliding in the guides, a crossbar connected between the support bars to connect the same for joint sliding movement, a hamper suspended from the support bars for adjustment of the hamper between recessed and extended positions responsive to sliding movement of the support bars inwardly and outwardly of the guides, and means on the support bars engageable with the guides to limit outward movement of the support bars, the guides being formed with end-to-end bores and with longitudinal bottom slots communicating with said bores, said guide-engaging means of the support bars being slidably disposed within the slots with the support bars being slidably engaged in the bores of the guides, said slots of the respective support bars having side walls formed with elongated recesses communicating with the slots, said recesses having front end walls defining abutments, said means engaging against said abutments on outward movement of the support bars to limit said outward movement, said means on the support bars comprising leaf spring elements formed with laterally, oppositely projecting wings disposed for engaging the abutments on outward movement of the support bars, each leaf spring having an angular portion slidably disposed in the slot of the associated support bar, said wings being formed upon the angular portion, each spring further including a tongue portion projecting forwardly from the angular portion within the support bar and terminating at its forward end in an upturned extremity, the associated support bar having a slot through which said extremity of the tongue projects on outward movement of the support bars, said extremities of the tongues being adapted for depression by a user to shift the springs downwardly to locate the wings out of position for engaging the abutments, whereby to free the support bars for outward movement fully out of the guides, said extremities of the tongues being disposed for engagement by the guides on inward movement of the support bars, and being extended obliquely to the path of movement of the respective support bars, for camming of the tongues inwardly of the support bars by the guides, said tongues when cammed inwardly shifting the wings out of position for engaging the abutments, the tongues being spring tensioned to move upwardly out of the support bars on outward movement of the support bars, whereby to locate the wings in the abutment-engaging positions thereof.

5. A combination dressing table and hamper comprising a horizontally extending cabinet providing a dressing table, means supporting the cabinet in an elevated position, guides at the underside of the cabinet, support bars sliding in the guides, a crossbar connected between the support bars to connect the same for joint sliding movement, a hamper suspended from the support bars for adjustment of the hamper between recessed and extended positions responsive to sliding movement of the support bars inwardly and outwardly of the guides, and means on the support bars engageable with the guides to limit outward movement of the support bars, the guides being formed with end-to-end bores and with longitudinal bottom slots communicating with said bores, said guide-engaging means of the support bars being slidably disposed within the slots with the support bars being slidably engaged in the bores of the guides, said slots of the respective support bars having side walls formed with elongated recesses communicating with the slots, said recesses having front end walls defining abutments, said means engaging against said abutments on outward movement of the support bars to limit said outward movement, said means on the support bars comprising leaf spring elements formed with laterally, oppositely projecting wings disposed for engaging the abutments on outward movement of the support bars each leaf spring having an angular portion slidably disposed in the slot of the associated support bar, said wings being formed upon the angular portion, each spring further including a tongue portion projecting forwardly from the angular portion within the support bar and terminating at its forward end in an upturned extremity, the associated support bar having a slot through which said extremity of the tongue projects on outward movement of the support bars, said extremities of the tongues being adapted for depression by a user to shift the springs downwardly to locate the wings out of position for engaging the abutments, whereby to free the support bars for outward movement fully out of the guides, said extremities of the tongues being disposed for engagement by the guides on inward movement of the support bars, and being extended obliquely to the path of movement of the respective support bars, for camming of the tongues inwardly of the support bars by the guides, said tongues when cammed inwardly shifting the wings out of position for engaging the abutments, the tongues being spring tensioned to move upwardly out of the support bars on outward movement of the support bars, whereby to locate the wings in the abutment-engaging positions thereof, the tongues being formed inwardly from the extremities thereof with upwardly bowed portions engageable against the support bars to limit upward movement of the tongues beyond a position in which the wings are disposed for engaging the abutments.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 512,519 Rey Jan. 9, 1894 849,124 Goldnamer Apr. 2, 1907 860,822 Pitcher July 23, 1907 1,272,245 Fitsgerald July 9, 1918 1,892,415 Ulrich Dec. 27, 1932 2,323,045 Jackson June 29, 1943 2,531,444 Lane Nov. 28, 1950 

